Hands on: Final Fantasy XIV Open Beta - This is my Joystick

With the end of the Final Fantasy XIV open beta and the impending release of the game, Giuseppe Nelva of "This Is My Joystick", that tested the game from the alpha phase onwards, examines the strengths and weakness of the second MMORPG of the Final Fantasy Franchise.

[MGRogue2017]

Interesting site name.. lol

On topic: This game looks pretty cool, RPGs

[Abriael]

ahah the "this is my joystick" ttle ain't my fault, I decline any responsibility :P

It's just a "army of darkness" related quote. "this is my boomstick" -> "this is my joystick". I told em it sounds dirtier than it is :p

[Bleyd]

It sounds like the chant they were saying in the movie "Full Metal Jacket".

This is my joystick.
There are many like it but this one is mine.
My joystick is my best friend.
It is my life.
I must master it as I must master my life.
My joystick, without me, is useless.
Without my joystick, I am useless.
I must fire my joystick true.
I must shoot straighter than my enemy who is trying to kill me.
I must shoot him before he shoots me.
I will.

[zerocool3397]

mind in the gutter again Ab.

[SaberM]

Good job Giuseppe! Final Fantasy 14 starts tonight, can't wait any longer!

[Abriael]

I'm quite excited myself. I already spotted the hardware mouse option in the client configuration :D I'm all downloaded, registered and ready to play.

Edit: yes, you're right, my friendly disagree-spammer, i'm actually not excited, i didn't see the hardware mouse, i'm not registered and ready to play. LOL.

[Leonesaurus]

I gotta say, unlike most of the pessimistic people around here, I'm really excited for FFXIV!!! I played the beta on my cousin's laptop, got hooked, and then went out and bought an Asus gaming laptop and now I'm ready to play tomorrow when I pick up the collector's edition after class! It's gonna be awesome!!!!!!

[JonnyBigBoss]

I get my CE tomorrow!

[Sam Fisher]

open for the ps3? or just pc

[Abriael]

just PC so far. PS3 beta will be announced at a later date.

[shadowmoses623]

Open beta is done for PC and release of the collectors edition is tomorrow and sept 30 for the regular edition. Now on the PS3 beta there is still no date set for when the beta will come out they are still working on it but it should come out really soon.

[TOSgamer]

Wow, so a company was finally shady enough to release a Collector's edition first and make people who only want to buy the regular edition wait. Not a big surprise it was Square enix.

[Abriael]

@TOSgamer: someone didn't follow the MMORPG market much, I see. Early access for collector's editions is a very widespread option in MMORPGs.

It's been done several times before. Aion and Warhammer Online are just two examples.

edit: regular edition will have access on the 30th.

[TOSgamer]

Fair enough. I don't follow mmo's games at all. Just wondering when this will filter down to regular game releases.

[lucifon]

Thats not the case, Aion was simply down to preordering to recieve the headstart - I was in it. Warhammer Online was a 2 day headstart for preordering the CE over the standard.

[lucifon]

I was ridiculously disapointed by this game from the beta. The game visually looks absolutely stunning but everything else about it screams 'backwards' - something seen far far too often in Japanese developed titles nowerdays. So many of the systems are massively dated, the game just feels like an MMO from 6 years ago. Decided not to jump on the 'new mmo' bandwagon of playing for the first month then dropping out. I think you'll see sub numbers absolutely tank after the first couple of months.

That said those who loved FF11 will surely enjoy the game if they're wanting 'FFXI HD' but i'm personally looking for something new.

[Abriael]

LoL. Systems have nothing to do with years. 6 years ago there was no MMORPG that played like FFXIV.
"different" definitely doesn't mean wrong, or old.

If you think sub numbers will tank, i'm rather sure you're in to be proven wrong, quite radically.
The game isn't perfect (no MMORPG at launch ever was or ever will be), but it's very solid, gameplay-wise as well, and offers one of the best class and progression systems in the market.

The sole fact that it isn't the usual wow clone already puts it a notch above the competition. This market needed something entirely different. FFXIV has the full potential to be that something.

Of course whether that potential will be fullfilled depends on the development over the next couple months, but the fact that the game has a control scheme that you personally aren't able to adapt to, doesn't make it bad and won't make it fail.

PS: the warhammer online headstart was 4 days. not 2.

[FinalomegaS]

i cant say i'm going to get it after close and open beta, i did give it a try a good bit.

As much as I like FF, this just doesn't work for me right now. I'm not sure any of you are heavy MMO players like my self but I am a constant beta player for as many mmo as I can get to try and FFXIV just felt weak. Of course after a number of patch and updates maybe it might be better but the core battle system is what i always look at and for me... nope. looking for something faster. It's just that I need to justify a few issues but then you have GW2 and B&S coming which looks so beautiful...I love MMOs.

I loved the constant raiding in warhammer online, that was pretty cool how the factions can always have a raid every 5~10min.

Maybe i've been around to much, I'm spoiled.